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Notes: A more sophisticated temperature control system than the capillary thermostat in conventional electric ovens is necessary for laboratory research on foods. The aim of the study was to develop a computerized temperature control system (CTCS) for conventional electric ovens and to determine whether the CTCS could effect comparable and consistent results in two ovens with regard to oven and product characteristics of baked products. No significant differences were found between the two ovens with regard to average oven temperature, texture and height of products. In most instances there were also no significant differences between the ovens with regard to instrumental colour measurement and moisture loss. The regression results also illustrated the effectiveness of the CTCS, i.e. that an increase in set oven temperature of 1°C has a significant effect on specific oven and product characteristics. The CTCS therefore significantly improved the reproducibility of quality characteristics of baked products. Thus, more consistent and repeatable results can be obtained to improve the reliability of consumer-driven food research.

Notes: In this study we propose a formal framework for the indirect evolutionary approach initiated by Guth and Yaari. It allows us to endogenize preferences and to study their evolution. We define two-player indirect evolutionary games with observable types and show how to incorporate symmetric as well as asymmetric situations. We show how to apply solution concepts that are well known from game theory and evolutionary game theory to solve these games. For illustration we include two examples.

Notes: We dispersed electrochemical etched Si into a colloid of ultrasmall blue luminescent nanoparticles, observable with the naked eye, in room light. We use two-photon near-infrared femtosecond excitation at 780 nm to record the fluctuating time series of the luminescence, and determine the number density, brightness, and size of diffusing fluorescent particles. The luminescence efficiency of particles is high enough such that we are able to detect a single particle, in a focal volume, of 1 pcm3. The measurements yield a particle size of 1 nm, consistent with direct imaging by transmission electron microscopy. They also yield an excitation efficiency under two-photon excitation two to threefold larger than that of fluorescein. Detection of single particles paves the way for their use as labels in biosensing applications. © 2000 American Institute of Physics.

Notes: We have examined the interfaces in Zr-silicate gate dielectrics grown on Si substrates using electron energy loss spectroscopy. The Zr-silicate interface is found to be stable with the Si substrate and the polycrystalline silicon (poly-Si) electrode under annealing to 1050 °C. At this interface, a 0.35 nm wide Zr-free interface region is observed in the as-deposited film, and does not change on annealing. The Zr-free region is too thin to take on the bulk SiO2 electronic structure, and thus is unlikely to compromise the dielectric properties of the device. For films with an Al electrode, a 2 nm reaction layer forms at the Zr-silicate interface. © 2001 American Institute of Physics.

Notes: We propose an original method to mark patch test sites. A transparency is applied on the patient's back, surrounding patch tests, immediately after their application. Marks are performed with an erasable pen on test sites and on permanent skin lesions like naevi. For further readings performed after patch test removal, the transparency applied on the patient's back permits the attribution of a positive reaction. This method is clean (without ink marks on skin and without contamination of clothing), more comfortable for the patient (allowing back washing immediately after the 1st reading, never inducing allergy to inks), durable (permitting delayed readings after several days or weeks) and inexpensive (because transparencies can be reused).

Notes: We present here a theory of motion from a topological point of view, in a symbolic perspective. Taking space–time histories of objects as primitive entities, we introduce temporal and topological relations on the thus defined space–time to characterize classes of spatial changes. The theory thus accounts for qualitative spatial information, dealing with underspecified, symbolic information when accurate data are not available or unnecessary. We show that these structures give a basis for commonsense spatio–temporal reasoning by presenting a number of significant deductions in the theory. This can serve as a formal basis for languages describing motion events in a qualitative way.

Notes: 1. The application of functional ecology models to aquatic plants often relies on morphological and life-history traits which may reflect, in part, the phenotypic plasticity displayed by aquatic plants. The present study was designed to evaluate the use of physiological traits, such as nutrition patterns, to describe aquatic plant strategies along a gradient of increasing resource availablity.2. Taking phosphorus (P) as an example, nutrition-use efficiencies were evaluated in five species, through the P-content in plant tissues, the variations in P-content according to nutrient availability and the perenniality of P-storage. Plasticity in P-storage was also investigated in Ranunculus peltatus, a morphologically highly plastic species.3. In 2001, P-content was analysed in Callitriche hamulata, C. obtusangula, C. platycarpa, Elodea nuttallii and R. peltatus tissue samples. These five species were sampled at nine different sites in streams along an increasing resource gradient in the Northern Vosges Biosphere Reserve (NE France). Variations of P-content in the roots, stems and dissected and floating leaves of R. peltatus were also studied.4. Only C. platycarpa and R. peltatus were found to occur in low nutrient availability conditions. Callitriche hamulata, C. obtusangula and E. nuttallii were restricted to mesotrophic and eutrophic sites. The highest nutrient-use efficiency was found for E. nuttallii which was able to adapt its P-storage to varying resource availabilities. Ranunculus peltatus was able to store high concentrations of P, but its P-integration within the vegetative structure was less efficient under eutrophic conditions. Callitriche spp. appeared to have relatively low nutrient-use efficiencies, although C. obtusangula displayed a high P-content. While P was stored preferentially in roots in R. peltatus populations occurring in nutrient-rich sites, there was no particular P-storage organ for populations from nutrient-poor sites.5. On the basis of P-usage, R. peltatus and E. nuttallii presented competitor traits, C. hamulata and C. platycarpa displayed stress-tolerant nutrient signatures and for C. obtusangula, ruderal or competitor characteristics dominated. The use of physiological traits, such as nutrition patterns, may provide valuable, complementary information about aquatic plant strategies, independent from the influence of morphological trait plasticity often displayed by these plants.

Notes: Looking at the economic development and importance of German companies in Europe, one might expect that an important aspect of a good economic performance is a well-functioning HR system. Although a number of scholars claim this, the empirical evidence seems to point to the opposite. Several comparative studies have found that HRM in German companies is less strategically integrated and proactive than that of comparable firms in other countries. This article argues that the empirical results reported fail to grasp the essence of HRM in German firms. This lacuna is partly due to the co-determination structure. HRM in large German firms has to be evaluated within the co-determination structure, with the Betriebsrat (works council) being an important actor. For German firms co-determination might even be a strategic resource. By examining this issue within such a framework, a more favourable picture of HR integration in German firms emerges.

Notes: Abstract The history of cochlear implants is marked by large improvements in performance, especially over the past two decades and especially due to the development of ever-better processing strategies. Although the progress to date has been substantial, present devices still do not restore normal speech reception, even for top performers and particularly for listening to speech in competition with noise or other talkers. In addition, a wide range of outcomes persists, with some patients receiving little benefit using the same devices that support high levels of speech reception for others. The purpose of this review is to describe some likely possibilities for further improvement, including (a) combined electric and acoustic stimulation of the auditory system for patients with significant residual hearing, (b) use of bilateral implants, (c) a closer replication with implants of the processing steps in the normal cochlea, and (d) applications of knowledge about factors that are correlated with outcomes to help patients presently at the low end of the performance scale.

Notes: Abstract Lung cancer is the most common cause of cancer death in the United States, killing more than 156,000 people every year. In the past two decades, significant progress has been made in understanding the molecular and cellular pathogenesis of lung cancer. Abnormalities of proto-oncogenes, genetic and epigenetic changes of tumor suppressor genes, the role of angiogenesis in the multistage development of lung cancer, as well as detection of molecular abnormalities in preinvasive respiratory lesions, have recently come into focus. Efforts are ongoing to translate these findings into new clinical strategies for risk assessment, chemoprevention, early diagnosis, treatment selection, and prognosis and to provide new targets and methods of treatment for lung cancer patients. All these strategies should aid in reducing the number of newly diagnosed lung cancer cases and in increasing the survival and quality of life of patients with lung cancer.